Coimbatore child murder: Second accused Mohanraj sent to judicial custody till May 27
Synopsis
A 10-year-old girl was allegedly lured away with the promise of chocolates, abducted, and murdered in Coimbatore — her body recovered from a local tank. Two accused, known to the victim's family, have been arrested. The case has sparked overnight protests outside the Sulur police station, with 300 officers deployed and senior police brass camping on-site to manage the fallout.
Key Takeaways
Second accused Mohanraj was remanded to judicial custody until 27 May by the Sulur Judicial Magistrate Court .
The victim, a 10-year-old girl , was allegedly lured away on Thursday evening on the pretext of buying chocolates.
Her body was recovered from the Kannampalayam tank near Coimbatore on Friday .
First accused Karthik ( 33 ), from Nagapattinam , and associate Mohanraj were arrested after being traced via surveillance camera footage.
An overnight road blockade outside Sulur police station lasted from 9 pm Friday to 5 am Saturday ; around 300 police personnel were deployed.
TVK's Sulur MLA N.M.
Sukumar visited the protest site and assured residents justice would be served.
The investigation into the abduction and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore moved forward on Saturday, 24 May 2025, as the second accused, Mohanraj, was produced before the Sulur Judicial Magistrate Court and remanded to judicial custody until 27 May. The case has triggered widespread outrage across the district, with residents staging an overnight road blockade outside the Sulur police station.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to police sources, the accused were known to the victim's family. They allegedly lured the child away from her neighbourhood on Thursday evening on the pretext of buying chocolates. The girl's body was subsequently recovered from the Kannampalayam tank near Coimbatore on Friday, sending shockwaves across the district.
Investigators traced the suspects using footage from surveillance cameras installed in the area. Police had earlier arrested two men — Karthik (33), a native of Nagapattinam currently residing at Pallapalayam near Coimbatore, and his associate Mohanraj — in connection with the case.
Key Arrests and Investigation Status
Inspector General of Police (West Zone) R.V. Ramya Bharathi confirmed the arrests and stated that special teams are continuing to probe every aspect of the incident. Police also reported that Karthik sustained fractures to his leg and hand while allegedly attempting to escape from custody during the investigation. Officials said they are verifying all circumstances surrounding the incident while gathering additional evidence.
Senior police officials, including Deputy Inspector General of Police P. Saminathan and Coimbatore Rural Superintendent of Police Allatipalli Pavan Kumar Reddy, camped at Sulur overnight and supervised the investigation carried out by special teams led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Karikal Pari Shankar. Around 300 police personnel were deployed in the area to maintain law and order.
Public Outrage and Overnight Protests
The murder triggered intense anger among local residents, leading to a prolonged road blockade outside the Sulur police station on Tiruchi Road. The protest began around 9 pm on Friday and continued until nearly 5 am on Saturday, forcing authorities to divert traffic through alternate routes.
TVK's Sulur MLA N.M. Sukumar visited the protest site late Friday night and assured agitated residents that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. The protest was withdrawn following the arrests, though grief and anger continue to prevail in the locality.
What Happens Next
With Mohanraj remanded to judicial custody until 27 May, police are expected to seek further custody to complete questioning. Investigators are continuing to uncover additional details surrounding the crime, and a chargesheet is anticipated once the probe is concluded. The case has drawn calls for expedited legal proceedings given the age of the victim and the circumstances of the alleged crime.
Point of View
But the case also exposes a persistent vulnerability: children being targeted by individuals known to their families. The overnight protest at Sulur, sustained for eight hours and requiring 300 officers to manage, signals a community that has lost patience with repeat incidents of this nature. The real accountability question is not just about the two accused but about whether neighbourhood-level child safety infrastructure — including community watch mechanisms — exists in semi-urban Coimbatore at all.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the accused in the Coimbatore child murder case?
The two accused are Karthik, 33, a native of Nagapattinam residing at Pallapalayam near Coimbatore, and his associate Mohanraj. Both were known to the victim's family, according to police sources.
Where was the victim's body found?
The body of the 10-year-old girl was recovered from the Kannampalayam tank near Coimbatore on Friday. Investigators traced the suspects using surveillance camera footage from the area.
What is the current legal status of the accused?
The second accused, Mohanraj, was produced before the Sulur Judicial Magistrate Court and remanded to judicial custody until 27 May 2025. The first accused, Karthik, was arrested earlier in connection with the case.
Why did protests break out at Sulur police station?
The brutal murder triggered widespread anger among local residents, who staged a road blockade outside the Sulur police station on Tiruchi Road from around 9 pm on Friday until nearly 5 am on Saturday. The protest was withdrawn after the arrests were confirmed.
Which senior officials are overseeing the investigation?
Inspector General of Police (West Zone) R.V. Ramya Bharathi, Deputy Inspector General P. Saminathan, and Coimbatore Rural SP Allatipalli Pavan Kumar Reddy camped at Sulur overnight. Special teams are being led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Karikal Pari Shankar.
